Ferndale students join in National Police Week ceremony

Students from Mrs. Darling and Mr. Periís third grade classes at Roosevelt Primary School led the Pledge of Allegiance and learned about the sacrifices made by police officers at the annual National Police Week Flag Ceremony in front of Ferndale City Hall. CRYSTAL A. PROXMIRE-For the Daily Tribune

Students from Mrs. Darling and Mr. Peri’s third grade classes at Roosevelt Primary School led the Pledge of Allegiance and learned about the sacrifices made by police officers at the annual National Police Week Flag Ceremony in front of Ferndale City Hall.

The Ferndale Police Honor Guard lowered the flag to half-mast in compliance with an order from President Barack Obama to honor fallen police officers. “Taps” was performed by Emily Cole and Thaddeus Closson of Ferndale High School. Chaplain Ross Hulbert gave the invocation, and Police Chief Timothy Collins spoke about officers injured and lost in the line of duty.

“Our officers patrol the streets at all hours of the day and night,” Collins said. “Even if not answering a call, our officers act as a deterrent simply by driving down the streets of Ferndale. The dangers officers face are not just knives, guns and fist, but they are patrolling at all times and they have a higher possibility of being involved in an accident and other hazards.

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“As an example, this past December, Officer Daniel Crane of the Ferndale Police Department was on routine patrol on Eight Mile Road. He was not responding to a call. He was not chasing a bad guy. He was simply patrolling, looking for things out of the ordinary, keeping us safe. As he crossed Woodward Avenue, a man ran a red light and crashed into Officer Crane’s patrol car. Officer Crane suffered numerous serious injuries from the accident… the severity of his injuries still prevent him from returning to work.”

Collins also recognized Auxiliary Officer Tyson Baker who passed away last week, and Bloomfield Police Officer Patrick O’Rourke who was killed assisting in a domestic violence incident last year.

So far this year there have not been any police officers killed in the line of duty in Michigan, a first since 1915 according to Collins. “I pray that we continue this trend for the rest of the year and beyond,” he said.

Auxiliary Officer Earl Sparkman said the tradition is especially important for the youth who come out to take part.

“When they’re this age, they respond well to things that adults do that are serious and respectful,” he said. “You shake their hands, you give them a part in the ceremony, and it’s something that sticks with them.”

As the police chief shook their hands, assigned students to be line captains, and coached them on how to behave during the Pledge of Allegiance, it was clear that a respect was being formed between the youth and the police.

“They need to feel like they can come to police and trust them,” Sparkman said.